Somaliland: Inaugural flydubai Flight Launches a Direct Service to Hargeisa

“We strive to provide underserved markets with direct air links to Dubai”States Ghaith Al Ghaith the CEO of the Dubai-based carrier which is the first airline outside of Africa to launch direct flights to Hargeisa

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) — Dubai-based flydubai’s inaugural flight to Hargeisa landed today at Hargeisa Egal International Airport marking the launch of a direct four times weekly service to Hargeisa.

Passengers aboard The landmark flight launching servicing of the Somaliland route from the Dubai-based carrier which is the first airline outside of Africa to launch direct flights to Hargeisa were senior management figures of the carrier.flydubai’s delegation was headed by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai http://www.flydubai.com , and Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) of flydubai. Upon landing in Hargeisa Egal International Airport, the delegation was greeted by H.E Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail, the Vice-President of Somaliland and H.E Mohamud Hashi Abdi, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport of Somaliland.

Commenting on the launch of the route, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai, said: “We strive to provide underserved markets with direct air links to Dubai. The addition of Hargeisa to our network will provide the Somali diaspora with the opportunity to visit their families and friends in their home country. With the interline agreements we have in place more than 250 destinations can now offer flights to Hargeisa through Dubai’s aviation hub.”

flydubai’s Business Class is available on flights to and from Hargeisa and across the airline’s network, offering passengers a more comfortable and personalised travel experience. Cargo services are also available on the new route, providing cargo solutions to a network of more than 90 destinations in Africa, Middle East and Subcontinent, Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, and 135 additional destinations worldwide due to interline agreements.

Commenting on the inaugural flight to Hargeisa, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial (GCC, Subcontinent, Africa) at flydubai added: “flydubai is committed to creating free flows of trade and tourism between the regions we fly to and we believe that our reliable and convenient passenger and cargo services will help to open up the trade opportunities between Hargeisa and Dubai and onward destinations.”

flydubai operates a fleet of 48 new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an average age of around three years.flydubai fact sheet’

Hargeisa Flight Details:

flydubai will operate four flights a week between Hargeisa and Dubai starting from 09 June 2015.

FZ662 is scheduled to depart Hargeisa Egal International Airport at 07.35 hrs local time, landing in Dubai at 12.15 hrs local time. FZ661 is scheduled to depart Dubai International Terminal 2 at 04.05 hrs local time, landing in Hargeisa Egal International Airport at 06.35 hrs local time.

Round trip fares

Economy Class return fares from Hargeisa to Dubai start at USD 610 including 20kg checked baggage, while Business Class return fares will start at USD 1,100 and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage.

Economy Class return fares from Dubai to Hargeisa start at AED 2,250 including 20kg checked baggage, while Business Class return fares will start at AED 5,600 and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage.

Dubai-based flydubai http://www.flydubai.com strives to remove barriers to travel and enhance connectivity between different cultures across its ever-expanding network. Since launching its operations in 2009, flydubai has:• Created a network of more than 90 destinations in 45 countries, with 23 new routes launched in 2014.• Opened up 56 new routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai.• Built up a fleet of 48 new Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft and will take delivery of more than 100 aircraft by the end of 2023.

In addition, flydubai’s agility and flexibility as a young airline has enhanced Dubai’s economic development, in line with the Government of Dubai’s vision, by creating trade and tourism flows in previously underserved markets. ‘flydubai at a glance’